1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

1. e4 d5

Shown from Black's side. ECO B01.

Opening guide · an opening for Black

Scandinavian Defense

The Scandinavian Defense starts 1. e4 d5. Black challenges the e pawn on the first move. After 2. exd5 Black takes back with the queen, which White then attacks with 3. Nc3 to gain time, or plays 2...Nf6 and recaptures with the knight. It is simple to learn because Black decides the opening.

Games in our sample
165,760
White wins
49.2%
Draws
4.3%
Black wins
46.5%
Open this position on the analysis boardResults by rating

How the Scandinavian Defense scores at each rating

Each row is one rating band. The share is how much of all the games in that band started with this opening.

RatingGamesShareWhite winsDrawsBlack wins
under 100013,6876.1%49.7%4.5%45.8%
1000 to 119919,5146.1%50.7%3.9%45.4%
1200 to 139926,5395.7%50.5%3.6%46.0%
1400 to 159933,7985.6%48.7%3.8%47.5%
1600 to 179934,5975.4%48.3%4.5%47.2%
1800 to 199925,5144.9%48.4%5.1%46.5%
2000 to 21999,5963.7%48.3%5.7%46.0%
2200 and over2,5152.2%49.7%7.5%42.8%
All ratings165,7605.3%49.2%4.3%46.5%

Counted from 3,156,949 rated blitz, rapid and classical games played on Lichess from 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-02 (the first 5,000,000 games of the month's public file; bullet and unrated games left out). The rating is the average of the two players' Lichess ratings. Source: the Lichess open database (public domain).

Main lines

The named lines of the Scandinavian Defense that were played most in our sample, each with the position it reaches.

  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Valencian Variation

    1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8

    21,484 games · White 51.0% · draws 4.8% · Black 44.2%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Main Line

    1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5

    18,981 games · White 47.9% · draws 4.1% · Black 48.0%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Modern Variation

    1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6

    17,757 games · White 47.2% · draws 4.4% · Black 48.4%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Gubinsky-Melts Defense

    1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6

    3,225 games · White 48.0% · draws 4.7% · Black 47.3%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Boehnke Gambit

    1. e4 d5 2. exd5 e5 3. dxe6 Bxe6

    3,105 games · White 48.5% · draws 3.2% · Black 48.3%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Main Line, Mieses Variation

    1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6

    2,577 games · White 46.9% · draws 4.4% · Black 48.7%

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Ideas for White

  • After 2...Qxd5 3. Nc3 gains a move on the queen. Then d4 and Nf3.

Ideas for Black

  • After 3. Nc3 the queen goes to a5 or d6, or back to d8, and ...c6 gives it a way home.
  • Develop the bishop from c8 to f5 or g4 before ...e6.

Questions

What are the moves of the Scandinavian Defense?
1. e4 d5. In the ECO classification it is filed under B01.
How does the Scandinavian Defense score?
In 165,760 games with it in our sample, White won 49.2%, 4.3% were drawn and Black won 46.5%.
At which ratings is the Scandinavian Defense played most?
Among players rated under 1000 it is 6.1% of all games in our sample, its highest share. Its lowest share, 2.2%, is among players rated 2200 and over.
Which line of the Scandinavian Defense is played most?
Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation (1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8), with 21,484 games in our sample.

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